Fireball Meteor Blasts Over US With Force Equal to 230 Tonnes of TNT

A sudden flash over the northeastern United States turned into a loud double boom, shaking buildings and sending people searching for an explanation. What many first thought might be an explosion or an earthquake was later identified as a natural meteor breaking apart high in the atmosphere.

The fireball streaked over New England on Saturday, May 30, 2026, at around 2.06pm EDT. NASA said it was a natural object, not a satellite or space debris, and Indian Express reported that the blast released energy equivalent to about 230 tonnes of TNT. Other reports, including Sky News and The Guardian, cited NASA estimates closer to 300 tonnes/tons of TNT, showing a slight variation in reported conversion and wording.